Heel-seat fitting machine



Sept 7, 1937. E. A. BEssoM 2,092,045

HEEL SEAT FITTINGf MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 7, 1937. E. A. BEssoM A HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1954 4 sheets-sheet s 'Sept 7, 1937- E. A. BEssoMv 2,092,045

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3l, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ivi/ENTUHL.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,855

37 Claims. (Cl. 12.3l.5)

This invention relates rto machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a heeleseat fitting machine.

In .United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371,

granted November 13, 1934 on an application filed in my name, there is disclosed a machine which may be advantageously used to trim the heelseat portions of soles attached to shoes in order to prepare the same for the reception of wood heels. In this machine the entire margin of the heel-seat portion lof the sole is bent away from the plane of the central part of the heel-seat portion and is held clamped in such distorted condition while a reciprocating cutter `movable l5 forwardly of the sole and provided with a straight cutting edge trims the bent margins from the heel-seat portion of the sole thereby reducing and beveling the margin of the heel seat portion of the end. In order to insure that the sole attached to the-shoe upper shall "not be flexed for- Wardly of its heel-breast line thus tending, for example in compo work, `to `break the cement bond by which the sole is attached to the shoe upper forwardly of the heel-breast line, it is desirable that the forward part of the heel-seat portion of the sole shall remain substantially undistorted during the `heel-seat tting operation,

In accordance withone feature of this invention the illustrated machine is provided with a support for the heel-seat portion of a Sole, a clamp for forcing the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the support, the support and `the clamp being constructed and arranged to maintainthe forward end of the heelseat portion of the sole substantially undistorted and to bend the rear end of the heel-seat portion at -an angle with relation to the forward end, and mechanism for reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole lengthwise and widthwise While it is held between the support and the clamp.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a heel-seat fitting machine which is` of the general type disclosed inthe above-mentioned United States Letters Patent N o. 1,980,371. In the illustrated machine the heel-.seat portion of the sole is supported upon a plate having a U-shaped opening and .provi-ded with thin forward parts which are spaced by the opening and enter the forward sides of the rand crease of the shoe Without substantially distorting the sole. The plate is also provided with a relatively thick rear part, an upper sole-engaging face of which is arranged in oblique relation to sole-engaging faces of the forward part of the plate and intersects a groove cut `in the under side of the rear part of the plate to form the bright portion of the U-shaped opening, the bight portion of the opening being raised with reference to the soleengaging faces of the front part of the plate. 5

In order to secure the heel-seat :portion of the sole against movement under pressure v'of a heel-seat reducing cutter, which is. mounted for reciprocation in a predetermined path, the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole is forced 10 by the above-mentioned clamp aagainst the soleengaging faces of the forward and .the rear parts of the plate. To .insure that the heelseat portion of the sole vshall have ia heel-engaging face the transverse curvature of which 15 is complemental to ythe transverse curvature of the attaching face of a heel to `be attachedito vthe shoe, the illustrated heel-seat reducing cutter is provided 4with a cutting edge which is arched transversely of its path of movement. As the 20 heel-seat Yreducing cutter moves forwardly of the sole -it travels along the groove formed in the under `side of the rear part of the plate and passes through the bight portion'of the U-shaped opening thus reducing the heel-seat portion yof 25 the sole lengthwise. As the cutter continues to move forwardly the lateral portions of its cutting edge travel along the respective sides of the U-shaped opening to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole widthwise, the central part of 30 the cutting edge extending above the sole and thus leaving the median portion thereof uncut. In order to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole the illustrated machine is provided with a pair of knives movable at right an- 35 gles to the plane of the sole; Ythe knives being operated either before or after the heel-seat reducing operation.

The `invention is also illustrated as embodied in a machine equipped with a cutter which, dur- 40 ing movement in a rectilinear path, reduces the heel-seat portion of the sole .and forms heelbreast receiving shoulders upon the sole. The heel-seat reducing portion of the cutting edge of the cutter is identical with the heel-seat re- 45l ducing portion of the cutting edge of vthe cutter above described but the cutter is provided with shoulder-forming extensions which, Aduring a portion of the travel of the cutter, move along the yunder side of a sole-supporting plate adja- 50 cent to the sides respectively of a U-shaped opening formed in the plate. The sole-Supporting plate terminates about one-fourth of an inch short of the heel-breast line of the sole, as distinguished vfrom extending forwardly to .such 55 heel-breast line, as does the sole-supporting plate above described. In order to bend the forward lateral parts of the heel-seat portion of the sole across the path of travel of the shoulder-forming extensions of the cutting edge of the cutter as it is moved forwardly to the heel-breast line of the sole, a presser plate similar to that illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27 0f United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 is employed, the central part of the bottom face of the plate being provided with a groove of suitable shape to permit the arched heel-seat reducing portion of the cutting edge of the cutter to advance tothe heel-breast line of the sole.

In order to insure that the clamp which is movable in a predetermined path shall effec- Y tively force heel-seat margins of non-uniform thickness against the sole-'Supporting plate and in accordance with a further feature of this invention, the illustrated clamp is provided with a plurality of sole-engaging plates each of which is constructed and arranged to yield generally lengthwise of and to tilt relatively to the path of movement of the clamp.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodied in an illustrated machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical section of a portion of the illustrated machine;

Fig. 2 showsV a vertical section of the machine taken along line II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 showing the heel-seat reducing cutter and the sole-supporting plate of the illustrated machine;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a presser member for clamping the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the sole-supporting plate during the heel-seat trimming operation;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views'sirnilar to Fig. 3 but illustrating modified types of sole-supporting plates which may be advantageously used in the machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View correspond' ing to Fig. l but illustrating the machine equipped to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole and to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the "L same by the use of a single cutter;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of the machine equipped as illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the heel end of av shoe fitted for the reception of a Cuban heel'by the machine illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the heel end of a shoe fitted for the reception of a Louisheel by the machine equipped as illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8.

The illustrated construction may be readily incorporated in the machine disclosed in the abovementioned United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 which may be referred to for a complete understanding of the construction and operation of the machine. The invention is described with reference tc trimming the sole 29 (Fig. 9) of a shoe 22 for the reception of a Cuban heel 24 by the use of the machine equipped as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, and also with reference to trimming the sole 2E (Fig. l0) of a shoe 28 for the reception of a Louis heel 39 by the use of ff., the machine equipped I'as illustrated in Figs. 7 7`5` and 8.

is a perspective view partly in sectionV and to bend the rear part of the heel-seat portion away from the shoe upper, the heel-seat portion of the sole being reduced by a heelseat reducing or back cutter 38 which travels in a rectilinear path and has a cutting edge 48 which is arched transversely of such path. The crease plate 34 comprises a front part 42 (Fig. 3) which Vis relatively thin and is constructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of the shoe without substantially distorting the sole. The crease plate 34 also comprises a relatively thick rear part 44 provided with a sole-supporting face 4G which is inclined to sole-supporting faces 48 of the front part 42 and intersects a cylindrical groove 58 (Fig. l) formed at the under side of the rear part 44 of the plate, thereby to provide a curved opening 52 which is continuous with an opening 54 formed in the forward part 42 of the crease plate. The openings 52 and 54 tcgether form a U-shaped opening the bight portion of which consists of the opening 52 and is inclined to the opening 54. The bight portion of the U-shaped opening may, therefore, be said to be'raised with respect to or above the sole supporting vsurfaces 48 of the front part 42 of the crease plate. The sole-supporting faces 45 and 48 (Fig. 3) are positioned below a plane including the rear end of the face 46 and the forward end of the face 48 and may thus be said to form a sole-engaging surface which is concave in the direction of the thickness of the plate 34.

Although the crease plate 34 is illustrated as having the opening 54 this invention also contemplates a crease plate 55 such as illustrated in Fig. 6. sole-supporting face 58 and front sole-supporting faces 69 and is provided with an opening formed by the intersection of the sole-supporting face 58 and a cylindrical groove 64 at the under side of the plate. The forw-ard part of the crease plate 56 is not provided with an opening which extends through'the plate but instead has a channel formed therein, the lateral sides 61 of the channel being undercut and vshaped for engagement with the lateral portions of the heel-seat reducing cutter 38.

As the cutter 38 moves forwardly of the sole supported by the crease plate 34 its arched cutting edge 40 moves along the cylindrical surface 50 which may be referred to as the tunnel portion of the plate. Upon continued forward movement of the cutter 38 the central part of the cutting edge 48 passes through the 'night portion of the U-shaped opening in order to trim material from the end of the heel-seat portion of the sole thereby to form the beveled surface 58 (Fig. 9) and upon continued forward movement of the cutter its margins move along the respective side edges of the U-shaped opening to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole widthwise by a pair cf cuts which form the beveled surfaces` it. The cutting edge 49 is so constructed and arranged that it slides over the median part of the heel-seat portion of the sole and thus leaves an untrimmed plateau portion l2 at the central part of the re- The crease plate 56 comprises a rear ll.

. ward ends.

. shown) duced heel seat. The cutting edge 4,0 of the cutter 38 is arched in accordance with the trans v-erse curvature of the attaching face of a heel to be secured to the shoe. The rear part of the clamped heel-seat portion of the sole Ais disposed at a slight angle to the path 'of :movement of the cutter in order that the wide bevel `68 shall be formed at the rear end of the reduced heel seat, such bevel being of substantially the same width as'beveled faces '|0 formed along-the sides .of the reduced .heel seat.

vThe heel-seat reducing vcutter 38 is adjustably secured to a cutter carrier I4 (Fig. 1.) which is guided along ya rectilinearguideway (not shown.) of the machine frame. 'Ihe cutter carrier 14 is identical with the .cutter carrier disclosed in' United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371, the shank portion 'I6 of the cutter rbeing fiat for re-y ception within. a dovetail groove (not shown) of the cutter carrier 14. The shank'portion '16 of the cutter 38 is provided with a 'recess `constructed and arranged to receive .a block '|8 which is in threaded relation with a screw 80 rotatably mounted in a bar 82 which is secured to the cutter carrier 14. The Acutter carrier 14 .is normally secured to laflange 84r of an operating slide (not shown) by Va screw`86. `The cutter 318 may be readily adjusted relatively Vto the cutter carrier '|4 by turning the screwf80 and is then locked lin adjusted position therewith by a set screw (not shown).

It will be understood that ya crease plate 88 (Fig. .providedwith a longitudinally curved o-r cylindrical lface 90 may rbe substituted for the 2 crease plate 34. The plate 88` at its underside is also providedwith a cylindrical groove 92 the elements of which are disposed at substantially right angles :to the elements of the cylindrical face 90, the rcylindrical face 90 and the groove i 92 intersecting yto form a U-shaped opening v86 having a bight portion 94. The edgedefming the U-shaped opening 96 is of :tortuous shape. The cylindrical face 90 may be lsaid to be concave in the direction of Vthe thickness ofthe plate. 88.

`It will be noted that the forward ends of the sides of the U-shaped opening converge and are yslightly raised. By providing such .a construction the beveled surfaces formed by the heel-seat reducing cutter 38 converge slightly at their for- Such a vconstruction insures that the forward end of the attac-hing' face of the heel shall seat snugly against the counterportion of the` shoe upper. The `hee1.seat portion vof the sole of the shoe maybe readily positioned Widthwise and lengthwise upon the crease plate :34 by providing a centralizing forl; |00 (Fig. 1) Yand a back gage |02 respectively, both these members being normally forced forwardly under spring pressure and being moved rearwardly under pres. sure of the shoe until the back gage |02 `engages a stop |04. The-stop |04 which carries a.depend ing cam roll |05 may be moved intoadjusted'position lengthwise of the shoe by :a cam f|'06 the position of which is controlled by `a `heel gage (not The heel-gaging and shoe-positioning mechanism of the illustrated machine is identical with corresponding mechanism "described in detail `in United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 and will not be further described herein.

'Ihe clamp 36 is supported by a housing f|.08

y (Fig. 1) provided with opposed grooves |f|0 (Fig.

2) shaped toreceive flanges. ||2 `respectively extending from a carrier or carrier block ||`4 (Fig. 3) of the clamp. As above stated the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole is usually of nonwhich force substantially the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole againstthe crease yplate 34 .even though the margin is of non-uniform thickness. The rear part o-f the margin of vthe heel-seat portion of the sole is forced against the inclined sole-supporting surface 34 by a pivotally mounted presser member I6 supported by a shaft ||8 which is secured within a pair of bearing lugs of the carrier block 4. The presser member ||6 is normally forced into a lowered position with respect to the carrier block |4 by a spring |22 (Fig. 1), the downward movement of the presser member ||6 when the clamp 3.6 is in a raised position being limited by a pin |24 secured tothe presser member H6 and engaging within a slot |26 of the carrier block I6. The side margins of the heel-seat portion of the sole are forced against the sole-supporting faces 48 of the crease plate 34 by a plurality of plates |28 which are arranged in parallel relation and are constructed and arranged to engage within recesses |30 (Fig. 4) formed in the carrier block I4. Each of the plates is provided with flanges |32 which overlap opposing ledges |34 respectively of the carrier block H4. The fianges |32 of the plates |28 are normally forced against the respective ledges |34 by equalizer 'bars |36 each of which is engaged by a spring |38 inserted within a recess in the carrier block I4. 'I'he equalizer bars |36 are arranged side by side, each of the bars being shaped for engagement with alternate plates '|32 and being recessed at its middle portion to straddle an intermediate plate. Each of the recesses |30 has lower side walls |40' which nare, the arrangement being such that the plate |32 may tiltheightwise of the sole as they slide into and out of the recesses |30. It will thus be clear that the plates |32 effectively force heel-seat side margins of non-uniform thickness .against the crease plate 34. In order further to insure that the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole is forced against the crease plate 34 the carrier block'l I4 is mounted for swinging movement as a unit relatively to the housing |08. :Such movement of the carrier block ||4 is effected by flaring 'the slots H0 rearwardly from their respective forward ends, theflanges ||2 of the carrier block, when the housing |08 is raised, being forced .against the lower faces of the respective slots ||0 by a' spring-pressed plunger |42 (Fig. v1') which engages within a recess in the upper part of the carrier block H4.

The crease 4plate 34;, the clamp 36 and the back or heal-seat reducing cutter 3-8 may be replaced, if desirable by corresponding members of `various constructions in accordance with the shape to which it is desired to reduce the heelseat vportion -of t-he sole.

Ihe housing |08 (Fig. l) is vertically reciprocated along aiguideway 44 of a lboss |46 of the mainframe through a plunger rod |48, the hous-` ing .being raised by engagement of a flange '|50 located at the lower end of the plunger rod with a shoulder |52 of the housing. The housing |08 is forced downwardly against the sole Vthrough a.

ing lever |82 being connected to the collar |60 by a link |64.

As above stated7 when the heel-seat portion of' the sole is fitted for the reception of a heel by the use of the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 a bulger (not shown) is connected tothe bottom of a rod corresponding to the rod |48, which bulger cooperates with aV crease plate to Vdistort the heel-seat portion of the sole widthwise and lengthwise. In order to equip the machine disclosed in the above patent as illustrated herein it is customary to remove the rod and the bulger which is secured thereto from the machine and to substitute the rod |48 therefor. rIhe housing |08 is constructed and arranged to receive either sole clamps such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 or the clamp 30 above described.

In order not to interfere with the cutting edge 49 which is curved transversely of its path of travel, as the cutter 38 is operated, the under side of the presser member ||6 and the carrier lool; ||4 are provided with grooves |68 (Fig. 4) and |88, respectively, arranged in close proximity to the path of travel of the cutting edge 38 when the clamp is in a lowered position. The presser plates |28 are positioned in each of the recesses 30 of the carrier block ||4 by removing a cover |10 secured to the lcarrier block by screws |12, the cover |10 being replaced after the presser plates |28 have been inserted in the carrier blockY |14 in order to retain the plates in position.

In order to form heel-breast receiving shoulders |14 (Fig. 9) upon the sole and to sever the U-shaped chip trimmed from the heel-seat portion of the sole by the back cutter 38, the illustrated machine is'provided with a pair of knives |18 (Fig. 1) which are adjustably secured to a holder |18, the cutting edges |80 of the knives being reciprocated past the forward edges |82 (Fig. 3) respectively of the crease plate 34. V,The construction and operation of the shoulderforming knives |18 is described in detail in the above-mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371 and need not Vbe further described herein.

In 'order to perform the heel-seat fitting operation the 'operator forces the shoe rear end rst against the centralizing fork and the back gage |02 to position the heel-seat portion of the sole attached to the shoe upon the crease plate 34. After the heel-seat portion of the sole has been positioned the operator steps upon a treadle (not shown) to cause the clamp 38 to force the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the crease plate 34. Further downward movement of the treadle sets the -back cutter 38 in operation forwardly of the sole to reduce the heel-seat portion of the same and then moves the knives |16 downwardly to form heelbreast receiving shoulders |14 upon the sole and to sever thel U-shapedV chip out by the back cutter 38 from the heel-seat portion of the sole, from the sole. Y

The heel-breast receiving shoulders |14 may be formed prior to reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,371. When heel-breast receiving shoulders |14 are formed before the heel seat is reduced the knives |16 are temporarilyV stopped during forward movement of the heelseat reducing cutter in order to hold the work against forward displacement by the heel-seat reducing cutter. When the heel-seat portion of the sole has been trimmed the operator releasesV his foot from the treadle to permit the clamp 36 to be raised'and then removes the shoe from the machine.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a heel-seat fitting machine provided with a back cutter |84 which is movable in a rectilinear path and has a cutting edge the central heel-seat reducing portion |86 (Fig. '8) of which is curved transversely of its pathofY movement-and shoulder-forming portions |88 of which are straight and engage the bottom face of a sole-supporting or crease plate |90 during a portion of the travel of the cutter. A creaseplate |90 and a clamp |92 (Fig. 7) which is used to force the heel-seat portion of the sole against the plate |90, are practically identical with the crease plate 34 and the clamp 36, respectively, above described. 'Ihe crease plate |90 and the clamp |92 extend to Within about one quarter of an inch of the heel-breast line of the sole being operated upon and have planar forward faces for accommodating Louis work.V The crease plate 34 and the clamp 36 above described are constructed and arranged to extend forwardly to the heel-breast linev of the sole being operated upon and have forward faces which are curved inwardly in accordance with the transverse curvature of heel-breast receiving shoulders shaped i to receive Cuban heels. It is unnecessary to describe in detail the parts of the crease plate |90 and the clamp |92 in view of the Vabove description of the crease plate 34 and the clamp 36.

In order to bend the lateral parts of the heelseat portion of the sole which extend forwardly of the crease plate |90 across the path of movement of the shoulder-forming edges |88 of the cutter |84, a presser plate |94 is adjustably secured'to aholder |95 corresponding to the knife holder |18. TheV presser plate |94 is similar to a corresponding presser plate disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.r 1,980,371 except for a central'groove |96 which is formed in the bottom face of the presser plate |94 to accommodate the arched heel-seatreducing portion |86 of the cutting edge of the cutter |84. Spaced sole-engaging faces |98 (Fig. 7) of the presser plate |94 are'inclined to the path of movement of the cutter |86 and cooperate with the front edges |91, respectively, of the crease plate |90 to bend the forward lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the sole across the path of movement of the shoulder-forming edges |88 of the cutter |86. As the cutter moves forwardly to the front face of the presser plate |94 the straight cutting edges |88 of theV cutter pass through the bent lateral portions of the sole to form heel-breast receiving shoulders 200. Mechanism for adjusting and operating theV presser member |94 is not disclosed herein in View of the detailed description of the same in Unitedy States `Letters Patent No. 1,980,371.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate having an opening, said plate being provided with a concave sole-supporting face terminating in an edge which defines said opening, a substantial portion of said edge being constructed and arranged to extend above other portions of said edge.

2. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a member having a face constructed and arranged to be engaged by the heel-seat portion of a sole, said member being provided with an opening which extends into vsaid face and has the general shape of the letter U, the portionof the sole-engaging 10, face. Y

4. In a heel-seat fitting machine, ak plate provided with a sole-supporting face, said plate having an opening which intersects the sole-supporting face and has the general form of a tunnel as viewed along a portion of said face.

5. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate having a sole-supporting face and provided with a U-shaped opening defined by an edge which lies in said face, the bight portion of said edge being arranged approximately in one plane and the side portions of said edge being arranged approximately in a plane inclined to the first-named plane.

6. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate having a U-shaped opening, said plate being provided with a concave sole-supporting face terminating in an edge which defines said opening, the portion of said edge which defines the bight portionA of the opening being constructed and arranged `to extend above side portions of said edge.

7. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate one side of which is provided with a concave cylindrical sole-supporting face and the other side of which is provided with a concave cylindrical face the elements of which are disposed at` substantially right angles to the elements of the first-named face, the second-named face being arranged to intersect the first-named face andi to form a U-shaped opening therewith.

8. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a sole-supporting member one side of which is provided with a pair of faces inclined to each other and the other side of which is provided with a concave face arranged to intersect at leastl one of the firstnamed faces and to form a U-shaped opening therewith.

9. In a heel-seat tting'machine,1a member one. side of which is provided witha concave face con-k structed and arranged toI Vsupport the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, the opposite side of said member being provided with-an elongated' groove which intersects said concave face and forms therewith a U-shaped opening defined' byl an edge lying in said face.

` 10. In a heel-seat fitting machine, acrease plate constructed and arranged to be positioned between a sole and upper of a shoe, one side of saidT plate being provided with sole-engaging faces which are inclined to each other and the other side of the plate being provided with a concave face which intersects the sole-engaging faces and forms a U-shaped opening therewith. 11. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a crease plate comprising front and rear portionshaving sole-supporting faces respectively which are inclined to each other, said rear portionfbeing provided with an opening which has the general form of a tunnel.

l2. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate cornprising` a rear portion having a U-shaped opening and a sole-engaging face, said plate alsoI comprising a forward portion having a channel which is continuous with said opening and havinga pair of sole-engaging faces spaced by the channel. andA inclined to the sole-supporting face of said rear portion of the plate.

\ 13. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a-crease plate Y provided with a U-shaped opening, a channel which is continuous-with-the opening, and a concave sole-supporting face surrounding the opening and the channel.

14. In a heel-seat tting machine, a plate having a U-shaped opening, said plate being provided with a channel which is substantially continuous with the opening. and having a concave sole-supporting face surrounding the opening and the channel, anda cutter movable in a predetermined path extending through the opening and along the reduci-ng the heel-seat portion of the sole length-` wise and widthwise While it is held between the support and the clamp.

16'. A heel-seat tting machine having, in combination, a plate `for supporting the heel-seat portion of' a sole, means for clamping said heel-seat portion against the plate, and a cutter movable in` a predetermined path lengthwise of the sole, said cutter having a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path and is formed and arranged to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole lengthwise and widthwise by a beveling cut.

17. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means constructed and arranged to maintain the forward part of the heel-seat portion of a sole substantially undistorted and to bend the rear part of said heel-seat portion relatively to said forward' part, and a cutter movable in a path extendinglengthwise of the sole and having a cutting edge which is curved transversely of said path, said cutter being constructed and arranged to reduce said heel-seat portion lengthwise and widthwise by a beveling cut.

18. A heel-seat tting machine having, in combination, a member for supporting the heel-seat portion of a sole, said member being provided with an openingl over which the heel-seat portion of the sole is positioned, a clamp for forcing the margin of said heel-seat portion against said member, a knife movable in a predetermined path and having a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, and means for operating' the knife in said path, said member and said clamp being constructed andv arranged to bend the rear part of the heel-seat portion of the sole across the path of movement ofthe cutter and to cause only the laterallportionsof the forward part of said heel-seat portion to be disposed acrosssaid path thereby to reduce' said heel-seat portion lengthwise and widthwise as the knife is operated.

- 19. In aheel-seat fitting machine, a blade movable in a predetermined path, said blade having a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, anda plate provided with anI opening constructed and arranged to receive said blade, said plate having a sole-supporting face which surrounds the opening and portions of which are arranged in oblique relation toy the path of movement` of the blade.

20. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a sole-supporting plate having an opening and provided with a face formed and arranged to support the heel-seat portion of a sole, a heel-seat reducing cutter movable in a predetermined path extending through one portion of the opening and along another portion of the same, said cutter having a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, and mechanism for operating the cutter.

21. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate having a U-shaped opening and provided with a concave sole-engaging face, mechanism for clamping substantially the entire margin of the heel-seat portion of a sole positioned over the opening against the sole-engaging face, an arched cutting blade, and means for moving the blade in a path extending through and generally lengthwise of the U-shaped opening to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole lengthwise and widthwise.

22. In a heel-seat tting machine, a knife mounted for movement in a fixed path and provided with a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, and a plate having solesupporting face portions which are arranged in oblique relation to said path, the sole-supporting portions of the plate having an opening through which a portion of the cutting edge passes as it moves in said path.

23. A heel-seat tting machine having, in combination, means constructed and arranged to clamp the forward part of the heel-seat portion of a sole attached to a shoe upper in substantially undistored condition and to bend the rear part of said heel-seat portion away from the shoe upper, a cutter mounted for movement in a predetermined path extending from one side to the other of the rear bent part of the heel-seat portion to reduce said heel-seat portion lengthwise and along the lateral margins of the forward part of the heel-seat portion to reduce the same widthwise, and means for operating the cutter.

24. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a sole-supporting member comprising a front part having a sole-engaging face anda rear part having a tunnel portion and a soleengaging face which is inclined to and merges with said iirst-named face, means for forcing the sole against'said faces, a crowned cutting blade movable in a predetermined path whichvextends along said tunnel portion and is inclined to said second-named sole-engaging face, and means for operating the blade in said path to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole lengthwise and widthwise.

25. A heel-seat tting machine having, in combination, a plate having a concave cylindrical surface and provided with a sole-engaging face which is arranged in oblique relation to elements of said cylindrical surface and intersects the same to form a U-shaped opening, means for forcing the margin of the heel-seat portion of a sole against said sole-engaging face, a knife mounted for movement in a predetermined path and having a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, and means for moving said knife along said cylindrical surface and through the U-shaped opening to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole.

26. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a knife mounted for movement in a predetermined path and provided with a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path, means for operating the knife, and a sole-supporting member having a U-shaped opening arranged in substantial alinement with said path and provided with a sole-engaging face arranged adjacent to the opening, a portion of said face being arranged in oblique relation to said path and another portion of said face being arranged approximately in parallel relation to said path.

2'7. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a plate provided with a face constructed and arranged to support the heel-seat portion of a sole, means for clamping said heel-seat portion against the plate, and a heel-seat reducing cutter movable lengthwise of the plate in a predetermined path, said plate being provided witha cutting edge the central portion of which is arched transversely of said path and the end portions of which are relatively straight and extend generally transversely of said path,

28. In a heel-seat tting machine, a plate provided with a face constructed and arranged to support the heel-seat portion of a sole, a clamp for forcing the margin of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the plate, and a heel-seat reducing cutter movable lengthwise of the sole in a predetermined path, said cutter being provided with a cutting edge the central part of which is arched transversely of said path and projects above a portion of the sole-supporting face during a portion of its travel, the margins of said cutting edge being relatively straight and arranged below said face during a portion of the travel of the cutter in said path.

29. In a heel-seat tting machine, a plate provided with a face constructed and arranged to Vsupport the heel-seat portion of a sole, means for clamping said heel-seat portion against the plate, and a heel-seat reducing cutter movable lengthwise of the sole in a predetermined path, said cutter being provided with a cutting edge which is arched transversely of said path and is constructed and arranged to reduce the heelseat portion of the sole lengthwise and widthwise, the margins of the cutting edge being relatively straight and constructed and arranged during movement in said path to form heel-breast receiving'shoulders upon the sole.

30. In a heel-seat tting machine, a Vsole-supporting plate provided with an opening, and a cutter movable in a predetermined path and having a substantially continuous cutting edge the central portion of which extends beyond one side of the plate and the marginal portions of which extend beyond the other side of the plate during a portion of the travel of the'cutter in said path.

31. In a heel-seat fitting machine, means for clamping the heel-seat portion of a sole, and a cutter for reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole for the receptiontof a heel, said cutter being movable in a predetermined path and having a cutting edge the central part of which is arched transversely of its path of travel and the margins Y of which are angularly disposed relatively to said central part.

32. In a heel-seat tting machine, a plate having an opening, said plate having an under face and also having an upper face which is constructed and arranged to be engaged by the heelseat portion of a sole, means for clamping the margin of the heel-seat portio-n of the sole against said upper face, a heel-seat reducing cutter movable in a predetermined path, said cutter having a cutting edge a central portion of which is arched transversely of its path of movement and projects beyond the sole-engaging face of the plate and the lateral portions of which are substantially straight and move along the under face of the plate, and a presser member constructed and arranged to force the forward lateral portions of the heel-seat portion of the sole across the path of movement of the lateral portions of the cutting edge of the cutter.

33. In a heel-seat tting machine, a support for the heel-seat portion of a sole, a clamp for forcing the margin of said heel-seat portion against the support, and means for moving the clamp in a predetermined path, said clamp comprising a plurality of sole-engaging plates each of which is constructed and arranged to yield generally lengthwise of said path and to tilt relatively to said path thereby eifectively to clamp the heel-seat margins of solesl of non-uniform thickness against the support.

34. In a heel-seat tting machine, a support for the heel-seat portion of a sole, and a clamp movable in a predetermined path relatively to the support, said clamp comprising a carrier, a plurality of plates mounted in the carrier and projecting beyond the same, and resilient means for urging the plate a predetermined distance beyond the carrier when the clamp is moved away from the sole, each of said plates being mounted for translatory and tilting movement heightwise of the sole relatively to the carrier against the pressure lof said resilient means as the clamp is forced against the sole thereby effectively to secure heel-seat margins of non-uniform thickness against the support.

35. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a support for the heel-seat portion of a sole, and a clamp for forcing the margin of said heel-seat portion rier, a plurality of plates supported by the carrier,

said plates being arranged in parallel arrange-V ment and mounted for sliding movement rela;A

tively to each other, and a plurality of springoperated equalizer bars positioned between the carrier and the plates, each of the bars being constructed and arranged to engage alternate plates and to straddle an intermediate plate.

36. In a heel-seat tting machine, a support for the heel-seat portion of a sole, and a clamp for forcing the margin of said heel-seat portion against the support, said clamp comprising a carrier, a plurality of plates mounted in the carrier, and resilient means for urging the plates a predetermined distance beyond the carrier when the clamp is moved away from the sole, said plates and said carrier being constructed and arranged to cause the plates when forced against the heel-seat portion of the sole supported by the plate to orient themselves heightwise of the heelseat portion of the sole in order to insure that heel-seat margins of non-uniform thickness shall be effectively clamped.

37. In a heel-seat fitting machine, a support for the heel-seat portion of a sole, and a clamp for forcing the margin of said heel-seat portion against the support, said clamp having an elongated groove and provided with sole-engaging portions which are positioned at opposite sides respectively of said groove and comprise a plu* rality of relatively movable parts.

EARL A. BESSOM. 

